Method of producing a female terminal

Abstract

A female terminal ( 30 ) has a main portion ( 31 ) and contact pieces ( 32 ) that project from that main portion ( 31 ) in a facing state. A male terminal ( 80 ) is accommodated into an accommodation space ( 35 ) surrounded by the contact pieces ( 32 ). The accommodation space ( 35 ) is mainly formed by horizontal holes ( 38 ) that open laterally. Cross-sectional shapes of surfaces (S) of the contact pieces ( 32 ) forming the horizontal holes ( 38 ) cut along a cutting plane crossing an axial center of the main portion ( 31 ) are straight lines.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing a female terminal from a bar material extending in forward and backward directions, comprising:
 forming elongate holes that open in lateral portions of the bar material, 
 forming slits radially arranged about an axial center of the bar material to divide the bar material into the plurality of contact pieces, and 
 setting a jig to substantially face outer surfaces of the contact pieces with a clearance defined between the jig and the outer surfaces of the contact pieces; and 
 forming a terminal connection hole communicating with the elongate holes from a front end portion of the bar material in a state where the contact pieces are deformed resiliently into the clearance and held in contact with the jig. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal connection hole is formed by a drill having a diameter equal to an outer diameter of a male terminal to be connected to the female terminal. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein resilient displacement amounts of the contact pieces into the clearance correspond to resilient displacement amounts thereof when the male terminal is connected. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a guide hole in a front end portion of the bar material before forming the slit, and the terminal connection hole being formed relative to the guide hole. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the guide hole is widened by an inclined surface at a leading end of the drill as the drill is inserted into the guide hole and the outer surfaces of the contact pieces contact inner circumferential surfaces of the jig to restrict resilient displacements of the contact pieces. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming outer circumferential ribs on the outer circumferential surfaces of the contact pieces at positions substantially corresponding to a terminal connection hole. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein a distance from an opening edge of the jig to a leading end of the drill is set so that the outer circumferential ribs are accommodated into the jig before an inclined surface at a leading end of the drill contacts the inner circumferential surface of the guide hole to widen the guide hole, and the outer circumferential ribs slide in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the jig with the contact pieces resiliently deformed by a specified amount.